Young Sartell squad ready to defend state title

Sartell senior captain Alayna Runge talks about getting ready for the state championships Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis.
By Tom Elliott

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Sartell Dance Team members rehearse a portion of a routine during their last practice Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Sartell before their appearance in the state tournament Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis. (Photo11: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)Buy Photo

The coaching staff isn't making much of the team's youth. About half of the team competing Friday and Saturday participated in last year's state meet, when Sartell finished third in jazz.

"The growth we've made in kick this year since the beginning of the year has been amazing," Sartell head coach Kelly McCarney said.

And the jazz performance is completely new. McCarney describes the up-tempo performance as "sassy" and "energetic."

It'll be up on the Target Center floor at 2:16 p.m. Friday.

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Sartell Sabre dance team member Haven Licht talks about her team's state high kick championship.

The Sabres are one of four area teams competing this weekend.

In Class 2A, St. Cloud Cathedral and Rocori compete both days. In Class 3A, St. Cloud Tech competes in high kick.

Rocori took fourth in high kick last year under head coach Lea Frank.

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Sartell Dance Team members strike a pose at the end of one of their routines during their last practice Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Sartell before their appearance in the state tournament Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis.(Photo11: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

Cathedral also is a regular participant, though under a new coach this year, Marissa Haakonson, a 2009 alum who was an assistant and is a former College of St. Benedict dance team member. The Crusaderettes have won state titles in '05, '08, '09 and '10 in high kick and in '10 for jazz.

Tech, under legendary coach Sue Arnold, also is a returning participant.

All involved compete in preliminaries at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The top six teams advance to the finals, which start at about 7:15 p.m. each day.

Class A competition gets under way at 11:30 a.m. each day, with its finals set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Runge, the Sartell captain, is in her fourth straight competition. Though not one to offer a lot of advice, her suggestion to teammates making their first state meet is succinct.

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Sartell Dance Team members begin a routine in preparation for state tournament competition Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Sartell. (Photo11: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

"Just to be confident," she said. "Yeah, Target Center is really big and all. But you're doing the exact same thing you've been doing all season. Other than that, it's a little too late to do much else."

For the Sabres, that was good enough to capture the Central Lakes Conference championship this season in a very close competition with Brainerd and Tech, which tied for second. Both are in the Class 3A state meet, which is for the state's largest schools.

McCarney said that Runge has lived up to the challenge of being Sartell's lone senior.

"She's amazing," the coach said. "She's always working hard and a great dance, but very humble and very mature.

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Sartell Dance Team members rehearse a portion of a routine during their last practice Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Sartell before their appearance in the state tournament Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis.(Photo11: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

"She's a great role model for our younger dancers, and she's always looking for things to try to improve."

For jazz, Benilde-St.Margaret's is defending state champion in Class 2A and figures to be one of the favorites again along with Totino-Grace. Mound-Westonka, Faribault, South St. Paul, Simley and Rocori.

In Class 2A high kick, Totino-Grace is a perennial favorite with numerous state titles. Faribault, Sartell, Austin and Benilde-St. Margaret's are considered top contenders.

McCarney, who has led Sartell to state for the 15th straight season, said that Rocori and Cathedral will be tough in both disciplines.

"Are section (4-2A) is always outstanding," she said. "I expect both of them to do well."

Sartell Dance Team members finish a routine during their last practice Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Sartell before their appearance in the state tournament Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis.(Photo11: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)